Building strong abs does more than sculpt a six-pack -- it also reduces your risk of injury, improves balance and stability, and can improve sports performance. Most ab toning tools work your entire core, and a few have other uses as well. Even if you discount the constant stream of flash-in-the-pan infomercial ab equipment, there are a wide variety of ab toning tools you can use in or out of the gym.
Floor Mat
A small floor mat is the only thing between your spine and the hard floor when you do crunches. Mats also protect your hands, elbows and knees during other ab exercises, such as planks, pikes and quadrupeds. Choose from relatively thick, somewhat rigid folding exercise mats and roll-up mats that can also double as yoga mats.
Stability Ball
According to research sponsored by the American Council on Exercise, stability ball crunches are one of the most effective all-around ab exercises. One of the stability ball's biggest advantages is its versatility -- not only is it good for crunches, you can also use it for standard ab exercises, such as pikes and planks. The stability ball also emphasizes ab involvement during other exercises, such as pushups and glute bridges.
VKR
You'll find a VKR, or vertical knee-raise station, in almost every gym. Doing vertical knee raises on the VKR, which is also sometimes called a captain's chair, ranked almost as well as stability ball crunches in the ACE-sponsored research on ab exercise equipment. Some home gyms also include a VKR, or offer it as a stand-alone piece of equipment.
Ab Wheels
Ab wheels are one of the recurring "themes" in infomercial equipment -- the design is popular enough to keep coming back in a variety of incarnations, and even shows up in some gyms. You kneel on the floor, grip the wheel's handles in both hands, and use your abs to control the wheel as you roll it back and forth on the floor.
Glider Discs
Glider discs -- which are literally thin discs that you rest your hands, feet or both on -- make it easier to perform advanced versions of the plank. The discs slide easily on hard, smooth floors, forcing your abs to stabilize your body as you move your hands and feet around. You can also use the discs for other creative ab exercises, including pikes.
Head and Neck Supporters
Another perennial infomercial design that sometimes shows up in gyms, these oval-shaped frames are designed to roll with your upper body, supporting your head and neck as you do crunches. You shouldn't need the extra support if you use proper technique, but there's nothing wrong with using this equipment if it makes you feel better -- as long as it doesn't have springs or other features designed to make doing the crunches easier. The easier each crunch is, the less benefit you get from it.
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